Newyddion
National Athletics League is Back!!
03/06/2021 00:00, I Mewn Blog /
Welsh clubs Cardiff AAC and Swansea Harriers will start their campaigns in the new National Athletics League at Yate this Sunday.
The league replaces the former British Athletics League and UK Women’s League Athletics League and will begin with a revised format due to the pandemic uncertainties.
With organisers trying to cut down on travel and overnight stays, it means Cardiff and Swansea will compete in the Premier West section against the same three teams – Bristol & West, Yate, and District and Yeovil Olympiads – at each of the four rounds.
Athletes will be awarded points based on performance tables and these will effectively pit all Premier clubs from all around the UK against each other.
Cardiff AC will be led in the throws by Jac Palmer, who recently sailed over the Commonwealth qualifying standard in the hammer. Welsh No.1 discus thrower James Tomlinson and hammer thrower Fffion Palmer are also due to appear.
Sprinter Jeremiah Azu is back from being part of Britain’s squad at last month’s European Team Championships in Poland.
Long jumper Rebecca Chapman will also be looking for big points. Multi-eventers Curtis Mathews and Lauren Evans, who finished third and fifth respectively at the England Athletics Combined Events Championships last week, will be showing their wide array of talents.
Swansea Harriers likewise will be fielding their top throwers. Dan Cork and Pat Swan, who have both thrown over 17m this year and rank second and third in Wales, will represent them in the shot. Javelin thrower Natham James will be hoping to get back to his 69-meter form from 2018.
Dan Beadsley will lead Swansea’s challenge in the sprints after recently clocking PBs of 10.52 and 21.28 in the 100m and 200m respectively and representing Wales at the Loughborough International. Aidan Leeson, who has recently run 47.37 for 400m, will go over one lap.
Pole vaulter Tom Walley will be seeking to continue his good form after his recent 4.80m PB. Combined-eventer Aled Price is set to line up in the long jump and 110m hurdles, while Osaze Agheo, who has a PB of 15.27m, will be on the triple jump runway.
Guy Smith, who has PBs of 1:50.01 and 3:42.55 for the 800m and 1500m, will be supported by Paul Tobin in the middle distances.
Swansea’s former world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene says he has Yate as a backup plan although, barring any travel issues, he will instead be in Denmark ready to race next Tuesday.
Follow updates from the National Athletics League at @Nat_Ath_League on Twitter.